Container-dispenser for collapsible tubes



Oct. 15, 1968 c. B. WATSON, JR 3,405,843

CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.23, 1966 7 R m N E V m CORNELIUS B. WATSON, JR. .BY W, flaw 4 M nuzsnllOct. 15, 1968 c. B. WATSON, JR 3,405,843

CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed NOV. 25, 1966 3Sheets-Sheet 2 l u V Oct. 15, 1968 c. B. WATSON, JR 3,405,843

CONTAINER-DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Nov. 23, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IFHEEIUHEEE we lz 74 H 11 E n I l/I/I/I/I/I/lfl l6 Hm '4I741 704 /0/ [FEED 113 1 L DEUHAH' /88/7/ ,84

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container-dispenserfor a collapsible tube containing fluent material has a case containinga manually operable suction pump at its forward end. The pump includes aresilient collapsible pump chamber which is collapsed by the manualoperation of an oscillatable. handle pivotally supported on the case todispense a quantity of fiuent material from the tube.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Ser. No. 576,118, filed Aug. 30, 1966, hearing the titleContainer-Dispenser for Collapsible Tubes and now abandoned.

This invention relates in general to devices for dispensing fluentmaterials such as pastes, creams and viscous liquids from collapsibletubes, and deals more particularly with manually operatedcontainer-dispensers which utilize pumps to dispense fluent materialsfrom collapsible tubes.

The general object of this invention is to provide a container-dispenserutilizing a pump which may be easily operated by one hand to dispense adesired quantity of material from a collapsible tube contained therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compactcontainer-dispenser of the aforedescribed character wherein the pumpmechanism occupies and is operable in a relatively small space in frontof the tube received therein, the container-dispenser therefore beingcapable of being made of a size only slightly larger than the tube withwhich it is to be used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handle to operate thepump mechanisms, whereby the manual pressure of the operator ismagnified two-fold or threefold in pressure applied to the pump chamber,by virtue of an elongated handle incorporating a yoke of shorter radiusto engage the pump chamber with proportionate ease of operation derivedfrom. such mechanical advantage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container-dispenserof the a-foredescribed type wherein a tube with which it is used iseasily placed into and removed from operative position by a simplemanipulation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide acontainer-dispenser utilizing a suction pump construction which avoidsor at least substantially reduces the possibility of air enteringthepump chamber, thereby causing interruption in the flow of materialdispensed therefrom, and which also avoids or at least substantiallyreduces the possibility of clogging as a result of hardening of residualmaterial during periods of non-use.

, A still further object is to provide a container-dispenser forcollapsible tubes which may be constructed so as to receive only tubeshaving a given spout structure thereby limiting its use to tubes of aselected type or brand.

Still another object is to provide a container-dispenser wherein a tubecontained therein is at least partially visible to the user therebysubstantially reducing the probabilty that material will be. erroneouslydispensed therefrom.

7 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and from the drawings forming a part thereof.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and suchembodiments willbe described, but it will 'be 'understood thatvarious-changes may be made from the'constructions disclosed, and thatthe drawings and description are not to be construed as defining orlimiting the scope of the. invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of acontainer-dispenser embodying thepresent invention shown in an upstanding position. FIG. 2 is a sideelevational view of the container-dispenser of FIG. 1, the full linesshowing the case cover in a partially opened position and the brokenlines showing the case cover in a fully opened position, portions of thecase cover and body being broken away to reveal details of the pumpmechanism and the associated tube.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken throughthe pump and case of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the pump of FIGS. 2 and3 and shows the tube and its associated pump part separated from theremainder of the pump as during removal or replacement of the tube.

FIG, 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a container-dispensercomprising another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the embodiment ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through acontainer-dispenser comprising another embodiment of the invention. A

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through acontainer-dispenser comprising another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of another containerdispenser and anassociated tube, the pump and a portion of the case being shown inlongitudinal section.

FIG. 12 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section view ofstill another container-dispenser embodying the invention.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 13-13 ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through stillanother container-dispenser embodying the invention.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1616 ofFIG. 15.

Turning now to the drawings, and first referring particularly to FIGS. 1to 3, a container-dispenser embodying the present invention is indicatedgenerally at 10 and comprises a case 12 adapted to receive and contain acollapsible tube 14 having a discharge opening or spout 16 andcontaining material to be dispensed. A manually operated suction pump,indicated generally at 18, is positioned forwardly of the tube 14. Thepump is adapted for connection to thei spout 16 and operates to dispensematerial from a nozzle 20 located at the forward end of the case.Operation oil the pump is effected by an associated handle 22 supportedon the case and operable externally thereof.

. The case 12 may be made from various materials and may take variousforms, but preferably and as shown, it is molded in two parts from aresilient plastic material. These two parts are a body 24 and a cover 26which, in

the closed position of the cover, cooperatively define an axiallyelongated generally cylindrical hollow shell having case is furthercharacterized by relatively thin walls along the major portion of itslength, and a substantially flat rear end surface 28 which may be usedto support the device on a horizontal surface in a stable upstandingposition, as in FIG. 1. In addition, the case is preferably further soconstructed as to enable a user to view the tube 14 when the case isclosed to easily and accurately determine the type of tube loaded in thecase and to thereby avoid accidents due to a mistaken belief as to typeof tube involved and to the material dispensed therefrom. This may beaccomplished by making one or both of the two case parts fromtransparent material or by cutting one or more windows or openings inone or both of the parts. in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG.1, it is accomplished by making the cover 26 of a transparent materialand by then painting the cover with an opaque paint over its entireouter surface except for a window area 29, which is left clear or freeof paint, located below the handle 22. The Window area 29 thereforeallows the user to inspect the tube 14 by looking therethrough. Asimilar window area could also be provided on the body part 24, ifdesired.

The body 24 includes a relatively thick generally circular front wall30, an axially elongated generally semicylindrical side wall 32, and agenerally semi-circuar rear wall 40 which partially defines the rearsurface 28. The side wall 32 tapers slightly outwardly in going from thefront wall 30 to the rear wall 40 and includes laterally spaced freeedges 34, 34 which lie generally in an axial plane 35, as shown in FIGS.2 and 5, and which partially define an axially extending side opening 36through which the tube 14 may be moved in being placed in and in beingtaken out of the case body 24. The longitudinally extending marginaledge portions of the body adjacent the opening 36 are relieved, asindicated at 38 in FIGS. 2 and S, to receive associated marginal edgeportions of the cover 26.

The handle 22 is located on the opposite side of the opening 36 from theside wall 32 and is pivotally connected to the case body 24 by a pivotpin 46. More particularly, a radially inwardly spaced semi-annular wall42 projects rearwardly from the front wall 30 on the open side of thebody. An axially extending rearwardly opening slot 44 is formed in thewall 42 generally opposite the center of the opening 36 and receives thehandle 22. The handle is in turn pivoted on the pin 46 which passestransversely through the wall 42 and handle, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The cover 26 normally closes the opening 36 and includes a generallyparti-cylindrical slightly rearwardly tapering side wall 28 having aforward edge portion 50 and two longitudinally extending free edgeportions 52, 52. It is closed at its rear end by a generallysemicircular rear wall 53 which, when the case is in its closedposition, defines the remainder of the flat rear surface 28. The cover26 is connected at its rear end to the rear end of the body 24 formovement about a pivot axis between open and closed positions. The pivotaxis extends generally diametrically of the body adjacent the rear wall40 and is generally parallel to the axis of the handle 22, the actualpivotal connection being provided by a pair of rivets, one of which isshown at 54 in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of which passes through the side wallof the case body and the adjacent side wall of the cover. The colsedposition of the cover is best shown in FIG. 1 and its fully openposition is indicated by broken lines of FIG. 2. To accommodate thehandle an axially elongated slot 56 is formed in the forward part of thecover side wall 48 generally opposite the opening 56. The forward extentof the slot 56 is defined by a rearwardly facing surface 58 which isengageable with the handle 22 for a purpose hereinafter furtherdescribed.

At this point it should be noted that the longitudinally extending edgeportions 52, 52 of the cover are so curved, and extends slightly towardone another, so that when the a slightly forwardly taperingconfiguration. The illustrated cover is' in its closed position, theedge portions '52, 52 conform to and engage the associated relievedmarginal edge portions 38, 38 of the case body, thereby releasablyretaining the cover in its closed position. That is, some slight amountof resilient spreading of the cover edge portions 52, 52 is requiredduring movement of the cover to or from its closed position. When thecover is closed its forward edge portion engages and is supported by thebody wall 42 to which the handle is attached.

The pump unit of the present invention may also take variousdiiferentforms and may for example be made as a unit separate from the case andadapted for insertion into the case after being connected with the tube.However, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, atleast a portion of the pump is permanently connected to the case.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the pump unit 18includes a pump chamber, and two parts one of which is movable towardand away from the other along the longitudinal axis of the case and tubeto vary the volume of the pump chamber. One of the parts, referred to asthe rear part, is adapted for connection with the tube and provides apassageway or path for the flow of material from the tube to thechamber. The other part, referred to as the forward part, is connectedto, or part of, the front wall of the case and includes a passageway orpath for the flow of material from the chamber to the discharge nozzle.The movement of the rear part toward and away from the forward part iseffected by oscillation of the handle, the handle having a part thereonwhich is engageable with the rear part and so arranged relative to thepivot point of the handle as to produce a high mechanic-a1 advantagepermitting the rear part to be moved toward the forward part, to reducethe volume of the pump chamber and to discharge material from the spout,with the application of a relatively small force to the handle. The tubefits loosely in the case and as the rear part is moved relative to theforward part the tube moves with the rear part and slides relative tothe case.

Further considering the pump 18 and referring particularly to FIGS. 3and 4 for a detailed description of this part of the illustrated device,the forward part of the pump is made up of part of the front wall 30 andincludes a coaxially aligned generally cylindrical passageway 60 passingtherethrough and a generally cylindrical coaxially aligned forwardlyopening recess 62 of somewhat larger diameter for receiving the nozzle20 which has a generally cylindrical center bore 68 extending coaxiallytherethrough. The forward end of the nozzle 20 is preferably externallythreaded, as shown, to receive the closure or cap customarily furnishedas part of the collapsible tube 14. Seated at the bottom or rear of therecess 62 and retained therein by the nozzle 20 and two headed pins ornails 61, 61 is a check valve element 64 made of a thin strip or sheetof resilient material such as rubber. When tube material is pushedthrough the passageway 60 to the nozzle bore 68, it resilientlystretches the valve element and moves around the sides thereof to thenozzle bore. After such flow, however, the resiliency of the valveelement returns it to sealing engagement with the passageway 60 andprevents the dispensed material or air from flowing backwards from thenozzle bore 68 to the passageway 60.

The principal chamber-defining element of the pump 18 is a generallycylindrical tubular sleeve 70, coaxial with the tube and extendingbetween and connecting the forward and rear parts of the pump. Thesleeve is made from an elastomeric material such as rubber andconstitutes the side wall of the pump chamber 71. The forward endportion of the sleeve is received and retained in a rearwardly openingannular recess 72 defined by the body front wall 30. Various means maybe used for holding thesleeve in place relative to the front wall 30,but preferably the sleeve is bonded in place by means of a suitableadhesive. At its other end, the sleeve is provided *5 with a generallyradially outwardly directed flange 74 which includes a generallyradially disposed r'ear-wardly facing surface 76. The sleeve is axiallycollapsible to vary the volume of the chamber 71 and is biased toward toan expanded or non-collapsed conditionby its inherent re siliency. 4

The rear part ofthe pump, indicated at 78, is preferably made fromplastic and has a forwardly extending cylindrical portion or nose 80adapted to be snugly received within the rear end opening in the sleeve70 to form the rear end of the pump chamber 71-. Spaced 'rearwardly ofthe forward surface 82 of the nose 80 is a radially outwardly projectingflange 84 having a forwardly facing surface 86 engageable with thesleeve surface 75. The flange 84 also includes a rear surface 88 whichis inclined slightly forwardly and radially outwardly from the axis ofthe pump.,A coaxially aligned cylindrical neck 99 extends rearwardly.from the flange and has a central bore 92 internally threaded to receivethe threaded tube spout 16. A passageway 9,4 extends through theremainder of the part 78 and communicates with the bore 92. At theforward end of the passageway 94 is a check valve 96 comprised of a flapof rubber or other flexible material fixed at one end to the part 78 byone or more headed pins or nails such as shown at 100. The valve 96covers the forward end of the passageway 94 and serves to preventretrograde flow of material therethrough as will be hereinafter evident.In FIG. 3, the solid lines show the valve 96 in its closed position andthe broken lines superimposed on the solid lines show it in its openposition. The other broken lines show the sleeve 79 and the pump part 78in the positions'assumed in the collapsed condition of the sleeve.

Preferably, the pump also includes a means for assuring a fluid-tightseal between the tube 14 and the movable rear part 78. In the embodimentof FIGS. 1 to 6, this seal means comprises a cylindrical collar 102,made from an elastomeric material such as rubber, surrounding the neck98 and extending slightly rearwardly therebeyond so as to engage theforward surface of the tube 14 when the tube is fully assembled with thepart 78. The collar 1G2 thereby'serves to prevent material leakage andalso aids in preventing air from entering the pump mechanism.

In order toallow easy placement of the tube 14 into, and removal from,the case, the movable pump part '78 is removable from the sleeve 70, thenose 80 of the part '73 being merely slidably inserted in the rearportion of the sleeve. FIG. 6 shows the part 78 separated from thesleeve 78, and from the relative positions shown in this figure, thepart 73 may be assembled with the remainder of the pump by merely movingit and the associated tube forwardly, or to the left in FIG. 6, to movethe nose 80 into the sleeve 79. Therefore, when placing a tube into thecase, the part 73 is first threaded onto the tube externally of the caseand then, as the tube is put into the case, the nose 80 is pushed intothe sleeve 70. Preferably, a metal reinforcing ring 104 surrounds thesleeve 70 adjacent the forward face of the flange 74 to aid inmaintaining a tight seal between the sleeve 70 and part 78. The part 73is further held axially in place relative to the sleeve 70, when thecase is closed, in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The handle 22 is preferably made from metal and includes a relativelythin elongated lever portion 106 received, at its forward end, in theslot 44 and apertured to receive. the pivot pin 46 which extendstransversely thereof. Formed on the handle in axially spacedrelationship to the pin'46 is a yoke 108 which normally engages theinclined flange surface 88 of the rear pump part 78 and partiallysurrounds the neck M) as best shown in FIG..5. The lever portion of thehandle is additionally provided with a generally forwardly facingsurface 110 spaced rearwardly of the pin 46 and engageable with thecover surface 58 to limit movement of the handle in one U direction.When the cover 26-is in its open position, the handle 22 may be pivotedin a counterclockwise direction to a forward position, indicated by thebroken lines in FIG. 2, to move the yoke out of engagement with the pumpflange 84, thereby allowing'adequate clearance for moving'the tube 14and the attached part 78 into and out of the case.

After a tube has been positioned in the case, the handle 22 maybe'rotated in a'clockwise direction, from the broken line to the fullline position of FIG. 2, and the case cover 26 may then be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction toward its closed position. When the cover isfully closed, the slot surface 58 bears against the handle surface 110and prevents the handle from moving counterclockwise from the positionshown by the full lines of FIG. -2. In this position of the handle, theyoke 108 engages the flange 84 and thereby retains the separable pumpparts in assembled relationship. Clockwise movement of the handle fromthe full line position of FIG. 2 moves the pump part 78 forwardl-ytocollapse the sleeve 7 6 and the chamber '71 provided thereby. l

Preparatory to operating the device after the tube 14 has been insertedtherein, and before closing thecover 26, the tube is manually squeezedto force a quantity of material through the spout 16 and forwardly pastthe valve and into the chamber 71 to substantially fill the chamber.When the chamber has been filled a quantity of material will flowforwardly through the valve 68 and into and from the nozzle 29 therebyindicating that the device has been properly primed for operation.Thereafter, the cover 26 may be moved to its closed position.

Depression of the handle 22 moves the rear pump part 78 forwardly tocollapse the chamber 71 to the broken line position of FIG. 3. Duringthis movement, the valve 96 is retained in its closed position by thepressure of the material in the chamber, thereby preventing theretrograde flow of material from the chamber toward the tube. As thevolume of the chamber 71 decreases the material in the chamber exerts aforward pressure upon the valve 64 causing the latter valve to open andpermitting material to flow to and through the nozzle 20.

When the handle is released from its depressed position, at the end ofeach stroke, the resilient sleeve 70 re turns to its normal expanded ornon-collapsed condition and exerts a biasing force upon the yoke 108 toreturn the handle 22 to its initial position, thereby preparing the pumpfor the next successive stroke or operation. As the sleeve 70 movestoward its initial position, the check valve 64 assumes a closedposition and a partial vacuum is created in the chamber 71 as its volumeincreases. This reduction in pressure within the pump chamber causesmaterial to be sucked from the tube 14 through its spout 16, thepassageway 94 and the valve 96. Material continues to flow from the tubeto the chamber 71 until the chamber is substantially filled. With eachsuccessive stroke of the handle 22, the aforedescribed cycle is repeated and a quantity of material is dispensed from the nozzle 20.

It will of course be understood that, during the operation of thehandle, the tube 14- is moved back and forth in the case 12 with theattached movable part 78. The case 24 is therefor made of such a shapeand size as to allow the tube to slide freely therealong as requiredwhile nevertheless providing some lateral support for the tube. Also, inthe illustrated embodiment, the resiliency of the sleeves 70 is reliedupon for biasing the sleeve to its normal expanded condition. Where thewall of the sleeve is relatively thick this inherent biasing force isusually suflicient. If desired, however, additional or other biasingmeans may be employed, such as a helical compression spring surroundingthe sleeve and working between its flange 74 and the forward wall 30 ofthe case.

Further embodiments of this invention are hereinafter described. Partsof these embodiments which are similar to corresponding parts of thepreviously described em- 7 bodiment have been given the same referencenumerals as in FIGS. 1 to 6, except for the addition of a letter suffix,and need not be redescribed in detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, these figures show another embodiment ofthe invention wherein the forward check valve 64 and nozzle of thepreviously described embodiment are replaced by a combination checkvalve and dispensing nozzle. The container-dispenser 10a further differsfrom the previously described embodiment in the general construction andarrangement of the front wall 39a and the nozzle 20a.

The forward wall of the container-dispenser 10a includes a forwardlyprojecting cylindrical portion 112 which receives a generally conicallyshaped nozzle 20a. The nozzle 20a is made from a resilient material suchas rubber and is provided with at least one slit 114 through itsotherwise closed forward end. The construction of the nozzle 20a is suchthat the resilience of its material tends to cause the slit to normallyassume a closed position as indicated by full lines in FIG. 7. Duringdepression of the handle 22a, however, internal pressure of the materialforced forwardly by the pump 18a causes the nozzle to be generallydeformed to the broken line position of FIG. 7, thereby opening the slitand allowing a ribbon of material to flow therefrom.

After the handle is released, and as the chamber 71a returns to itsnormal expanded condition, the nozzle 20a also returns to its normalcondition to close the slit 114. Thus, the slit provides a valve actionforwardly of the pump chamber and performs the function of the forwardcheck valve 64 of the previously described embodiment. It should beapparent that the slit will remain open only while material is beingdispensed from the container. Thus, the nozzle 20a substantially reducesthe possibility of residual material hardening in the nozzle duringperiods of non-use.

In FIG. 9 is shown another embodiment of the invention which is similarto that of FIGS. 1 to 6 except for including a different means forattaching the movable pump part to a tube. The pump 18b of FIG. 9includes a movable part 78b having a coaxial bore 116 extendingtherethrough and having a rearwardly projecting neck portion 90bincluding a generally radially disposed rearwardly facing surface 118.The neck is externally threaded to receive a connecting member or collet120. Contained within the collet in a rearwardly converging conicalrecess 122 is a resilient annular retaining member 124 preferably madefrom rubber or like material and generally conforming to theconfiguration of the recess. The member 124 is provided with acylindrical bore 126 adapted to receive the spout 16b of the associatedtube 14b and includes a radially disposed annular forwardly facingsurface 128 which bears against the neck surface 118. It will beapparent that as the collet 120 is threaded forwardly onto the neck 90bthe retaining member 124 will be urged forwardly against the surface 118and will be deformed radially inwardly to tightly engage the spout 16b.In addition to releasably gripping the spout 166 the member 124 alsoprovides a means for effecting a fluid tight seal between the pump andthe tube.

From the foregoing description of FIG. 9 it will be obvious that theillustrated collet mechanism for joining the tube 14b to the movablepart 78b is usable with tubes having various different threadconfigurations on the spout 16b and having slightly different spoutdiameters. The connection device is therefore one universally usablewith almost all types of tubes presently on the market. In contrast tothis, the connection means of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 is limitedto use with tubes having a specific thread configuration on theirspouts. This, however, may be advantageous insofar as it limits the useof the container-dispenser to certain specific tubes, such as tubes madeby a given manufacturer. Therefore, a tube manufacturer may furnish acontainer-dispenser of 8 this invention for use with his tubes and beassured that it will not be used with tubes of another manufacturer.

Turning to FIG. 10, this figure shows another embodiment of theinvention, generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 6, but wherein thenozzle of the container-dispenser is integral with the front wall. Inthe container-dispenser 10c of FIG. 10, the nozzle 200 is integral withthe front wall 330 ofthe case and includes a pasageway 680 whichcommunicates with a conical chamber 130 in turn communicating with acylindrical bore 132. Received in the annular bore 132 is an annularinsert 134 having an opening 136 passing therethrough. On its outersurface, the annular insert 134 is relieved at its rear portion toreceive the forward end of the pump chamber sleeve 70c. The sleeve 70cfits between the annular part 134 and the wall 300, and the insert 134,sleeve 70c and front wall 30c are prefer-ably bonded together by meansof a suitable adhesive. On the forward face of the annular part 134, andcooperating with the opening 136, is a check valve 138. This check valveis made from a strip or sheet of resilient material, such as rubber, andis fixed to the annular part 134 by two headed pins or nails 140,located on opposite sides of the opening 136. The valve 138 is thereforegenerally similar to the valve 64 of FIGS. 1 to 6, and during thecollapsing movement of the sleeve 7 0c is moved to an open condition bythe pressure of the dispensed material thereagainst, the materialflowing around the sides of the element of the valve 138 in moving fromthe opening 136 to the chamber 130 and the nozzle passageway 680. Duringthe return or expanding movement of the sleeve 700 the valve element 138moves to its closed position, shown by FIG. 10, to prevent the reverseflow of material or air to the pump chamber provided by the sleeve 700.

Another container-dispenser embodying the present invention andindicated generally at 10d is shown in FIG. 11. The container-dispenser10d differs from the previously described embodiment in the constructionof the pump 18d and in the general construction and arrangement of thecase 12d. More specifically, the pump 18d is attached to the case andincludes a generally cylindrical resilient tubular sleeve 70d the rearend portion of which is received and retained in a forwardly openingannular recess defined by the rear part 78d. Like the rear part 78 thepart 78d is provided with a rearwardly opening central bore 92dinternally threaded to receive a threaded tube spout 16d.

The case 12d is preferably molded in one part from a ,resilient plasticmaterial and includes a generally cylindrical side wall 32d extendingaxially rearwardly for some distance beyond the extent of the handle 22dto form a partial enclosure for a tube, such as 14d, and to provide abody portion capable of being conveniently grasped by the user when theoperating handle is manipulated.

The case 12d opens axially rearwardly to receive the tube 14d and is ofsuch size as to provide some degree of lateral support for a tube whilenevertheless permitting the tube to slid freely therein, as necessary,to permit operation of the pump. It will be further noted that the tubeis freely rotatable relative to the case to facilitate threadableconnection with the part 78d. When a tube of material is connected tothe container-dispenser 10d a portion of the tube extends rearwardlytherefrom. The exposed portion of the tube which normally bears a labelor other marking identifying the contents thereof is therefore visibleto the user. If desired, however, the case could be made to extend formore than the full length of the tube and be provided with a squaredoif, although open bottom permitting it to be stored on end.

In all of the previously described embodiments of the invention the pumphas been made up in part of a resilient sleeve which is collapsible tovary the volume of the pump chamber. This construction is not, however,necessary to the broader aspects of the invention and, if desired, thepump may be made to include a pump chamber made up of a rigid cylinderand piston moveable therein. Such a pump is shown in FIG. 12 and couldbe substituted for any of the previously described pumps. Referring toFIG. 12, the pump is indicated generally at 182 and includes a frontpart 150 extending rearwardly from the front wall 392 and having arearwardly opening generally cylindrical recess or cylinder 152. Thepump further includes a rear part 7 82 which is in some respects similarto the rear parts of the other previously described embodiments, butwhich differs therefrom in that it has an axially forwardly projectingpiston 156 received in the cylinder 152. The piston includes a forwardlyfacing surface 158 which defines the rear wall of the pump chamber. Toprevent leakage of material from the pump chamber a resilient annularseal or O-ring 161 is received within a recess in the wall of thecylinder 152 and surrounds the piston 156. The rear part 788 is biasedrearwardly or away from the front part by a helical compression spring162 which acts between the front wall 36:2 and the flange 74e on therear part of the pump.

The check valves in the pump 18e may be generally similar to those .ofthe aforedescribed embodiments. However, for the purpose of illustrationand not by way of limitation, a modified valve indicated at 164 is shownassociated with the forward passageway of the, pump 182. The valve 164may serve as a check valve for either part of the pump, but for thepurpose of illustration is shown associated with the forward passageway60e. The nozzle 20e is integral with the front wall 39:2 of the case andincludes a generally cylindrical center bore 68e extending coaxiallyrearwardly and terminating in a forwardly facing surface or face 165.The generally cylindrical passageway 609 is coaxially aligned with thebore and opens through the face 165. The check valve element 164 ispreferably molded from resilient material such as rubber and includes athin disc 166 seated .on the face 165 and forming a closure for theforward end of the passageway 60:2. A slender generally T-shaped stern168 integrally connected with the disc 166 extends coaxially through thepassageway 60c and engages the front wall 302 at the rear end of thepassageway to retain the central portion of the disc against axialmovement. When the material is forced through the passageway 6fie andinto the nozzle bore 68e the marginal edge portion of the disc 166 movesaway from the face 165 to a position generally indicated in broken linesin FIG. 12. After the material flow ceases, the inherent resiliency ofthe valve element causes it to return to its seated position on the face165 to prevent dispensed material or air from flowing from th nozzlebore to the passageway 60e.

FIGS. and 16 show a container-dispenser 10] having still another form ofcheck valve for the pump. Due to its crcsssectional configuration whichvaries axially of the orifice in which it is received, the valve memberof the illustrated check valve has both self-centering and tightsealingqualities. In the device 10 the nozzle is integral with the front wall fof the cas and has a central bore therethrough which includes adjacentcylindrical portions 168 and 170 at its forward end and an annularshoulder 171 located therebetween. The cylindrical portion 170 opensinto a conical chamber 172 which in turn communicates with a rearwardlyopening cylindrical portion 174. Received within the nozzle bore is acheck valve member 176 which includes a rearwardly diverging conicalbody portion 178 disposed within the conical chamber 172. To maintainthe valve in general coaxial alignment with the nozzle bore, the valvemember 176 also includes a central stem 180 which projects into thecylindrical portion 170 of the nozdle bore. Intermediate the stem andbody portions the valve member 176 has a stop bar 182 which extendsdiametrically of its body portion. The valv member 176 is held inassembly with the case by an annular insert 184 received within thecylindrical portion and having a conical orifice 186 extendingtherethrough which provides a seating surface for the valve body portion178. A helical spring 188 encompasses the stem 180 and acts 16 betweenthe shoulder 171 and the stop bar 182 to urge the valve into the orifice186.

Pressure exerted by the material in the pump chamber causes the valvemember 176 to open or move to its broken line position of FIG. 15. Inthe open position the stop bar 182 engages the wall of the conicalchamber 172 to limit the forward travel of the valve member. The bar isfurther of a generally rectangular shape, as viewed in FIG. 16, sothat'when the valve member is in the forward limit of its movementpassageways are provided between the chamber wall and the valve bodyportion for flow of material therethrough. The spring 188 biases thevalve member 176 into a tight-sealing engagement with the wall of theorifice 186 when the flow of material ceases, thereby preventing air ormaterial from entering the pump chamber from the nozzle bore.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a device for dispensing fluent material from a collapsible tubehaving a discharge spout, the combination comprising: a case adapted toreceive and contain at least a portion of such a tube, a suction pumplocated at the forward end of said case forwardly of a spout of a tubesuch as aforesaid contained therein, said pump including means defininga pump chamber, a discharge nozzle located forwardly of said pumpchamber and communicating therewith, means for connecting a spout of atube such as aforesaid to said pump to provide a path of flow from sucha tube to and through said pump chamber and said discharge nozzle, andmeans for moving said connecting means and any tube such as aforesaidconnecting therewith toward and away from said discharge nozzle to varythe volume of said pump chamber.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pump includes a firstpart secured to said case and a sec- 0nd part separable from said firstpart, said connecting means being carried by said second part.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said second part defines arear wall of said pump chamber, and said means for moving saidconnecting means comprises a handle operable externally of said case tomove said second part longitudinally of said case.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said case includes a bodyand a cover pivotally connected with said body for movement between openand closed positions relative thereto, said cover having a slot thereinfor receiving said handle when said cover is in its closed position,said handle being engageable with said cover at the forward end of saidslot to limit movement thereof in one direction relative to said case,said handle having a part thereon engageable with said second part formoving said second part relative to said case in response to move mentof said handle and for holding said first and second parts in assembledrelation, said handle when said cover is in its open position beingmovable to a position at which said handle part is moved out ofengagement with said second part to permit separation of said secondpart from said first part.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving saidconnecting means includes an oscillatable handle supported upon saidcase for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto andhaving a part thereon engageable with said connecting means.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said case includes arearwardly opening tubular body portion adapted to receive said tubecoaxially therein, said case being further adapted to extend axially ofsaid tube through a portion of the length thereof.

7. A device for dispensing fluent material as defined in claim 6particularly adapted for use with a tube having an externally threadedspout and further characterized by said pump being attached to said caseand said connecting means including a coaxially aligned and rearwardlyopening internally threaded spout receiving aperture defined by a rearportion of said pump, said case being adapted to permit said tube to berotated therein to effect connection with said pump.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pumpincludes aforward part secured to said case and having a rearwardly opening recesspartially defining said pump chamber and a rear part including a pistonportion slidably received in said recess and defining a rear wall ofsaid pump chamber, said connecting means being carried by said secondpart.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means defining achamber includes a resilient cylindrical sleeve generally axiallyaligned with the spout of a tube such as aforesaid when such a tube isconnected with said connecting means, said sleeve being adapted tocollapse generally axially forwardly in response to the movement of saidconnecting means toward said discharge nozzle. Y

10. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge nozzleincludes a resilient closure having a slit therethrough normally biasedto a closed condition and adapted to open in response to the pressure ofmaterial flow from said pump.

11. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by saiddischarge nozzle having external threads thereon.

12. The combinationdefined in claim 1 further characterized by saidconnecting means including a collet mechanism for gripping the spout ofa tube such as aforesaid, said collet mechanism including first andsecond threadably connected parts and an apertured resilient memberlocated between said latter two parts, said latter two parts and saidapertnred resilient member being so constructed and arranged that saidapertured member is deformed to decrease the size of its aperture assaid two parts are threaded together in one direction.

13. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion ofsaid case is transparent.

14. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said pump includes afront part and a rear part, said rear part carrying said connectingmeans and having a rearwardly facing surface and wherein said means formoving said connecting means comprises a handle pivotally connected tosaid case near the forward end thereof, said handle including adepending portion rearwardly spaced from said handle pivot axis forengaging said rearwardly facing surface to move said rear partlongitudinally of said case in response to the operation of said handle.

15. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movingsaid connecting means comprises an oscillatable handle pivotally aflixedto said case and operable externally thereof, said handle having aforward portion which engages said pump chamber defining means to varythe volume of said chamber upon operation of said handle and anoperating portion engageable by the user to operate said handle, saidhandle being pivotally affixed to said case in such a manner that saidforward portion thereof moves through a relatively smaller radius thansaid operating portion for a given movement of said operating portion 50as to obtain a mechanical advantage in compressing said pump chamber andthereby reducing the force required to operate said pump.

16. A device for dispensing fluent material from a collapsible tubehaving a discharge opening comprising a case adapted to receive andcontain at least a portion of the body of such a tube and including aforward wall having a first passageway passing therethrongh to adischarge point forwardly of said case, a suction pump located in saidcase at the forward end thereof forwardly of a discharge opening of atube such as aforesaid contained in said case, said pump having aforward part integral with said forward wall and fixed relative to theremaining portion of said case and including a pump chamber partiallydefined by said forward wall and communicating with said firstpassageway, said pump having a rear part located rearwardly of saidforward part partially defining said pump chamber and including a secondpassageway passing therethrough and communicating with said pumpchamber, means for connecting a discharge opening of a tube such asaforesaid to said rear part to provide a path of flow from thedischarge-opening to and through said second passageway to said pumpchamber, a rear check valve associated with said second passageway forpermitting material to flow therethrough from the tube discharge openingto said pump chamber and for preventing material from flowingtherethrough in the opposite direction, a forward check valve associatedwith said first passageway for permitting material to flow therethroughto said discharge point and for preventing material from flowing therethrough in the opposite direction, and means for moving said rear parttoward and away from said forward part to vary the volume of said pumpchamber.

17. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein said pump includes aresilient tubular sleeve connecting said forward and rear parts andpartially defining said pump chamber, said sleeve being normally biasedto an expanded condition and being adapted to be collapsed by themovement of said rear part toward said forward part.

18. The combination defined in claim 16 wherein said means for movingsaid rear part comprises an oscillatable handle pivotally afiixed tosaid case and operable externally thereof, said handle having a forwardportion which engages said rear part to vary the volume of said chamberupon operation of said handle and an operating portion engageable by theuser to operate said handle, said handle being pivotally affixed to saidcase in such a manner that said forward portion thereof moves through arelatively smaller radius than said operating portion for a givenmovement of said operating portion so as to obtain a mechanicaladvantage in compressing said pump chamber and thereby reducing theforce required to operate said pump.

References v'Jited UNITED STATES PATENTS 352,343 11/1886 Warren 222-383X 1,408,356 2/1922 Jones 137-525 X 1,537,010 5/ 1925 Herschmann 222-107X 1,581,412 4/1926 Wishart 222-105 X 2,620,943 12/ 1952 Critelli et al.222- 3,061,202 10/1962 Tyler 222-383 X 3,158,176 11/1964 Tolan'd 137-5253,160,329 12/1964 Radio et al. 222-212 X 3,220,611 11/1965 Zander et al222-95 3,310,830 3/1967 Gattone 222-183 X FOREIGN PATENTS 162,090 1/1949Austria. 1,098,204. 3/ 1955 France.

213,337 3/ 1924 Great Britain.

67,227 l/ 1951 Netherlands.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

K. N. LE'IMER, Assistant Examiner.

